Polish police probe assault on Ukrainian teen girls in Legnica as anti‑Ukrainian attacks rise

Police in Legnica are investigating an assault on two 13‑year‑old girls from Ukraine that occurred on 18 July near the Delfinek pool. A woman struck one girl in the face and another in the neck after demanding they speak Polish, telling them “because you are from Ukraine.” The incident was reported by a mother on Facebook and condemned by the Ministry of Interior spokesperson. The investigation aims to determine the motive behind the attack.

The Legnica case comes amid a broader increase in hate‑motivated crimes against Ukrainians in Poland. Police data show 180 reports of anti‑Ukrainian hate offences in the first half of the year, a rise of more than 30 % compared with the same period last year, and a total of 267 complaints in 2024, with numbers continuing to climb. Politicians have exchanged accusations over the surge, while Ukrainian activists have called for calm and accountability for individual perpetrators.